User Friendly Real Time Display

Abstract

Real-time viewing of high resolution infrared line scan reconnaissance imagery is greatly facilitated using Honeywell's Real Time Display in conjunction with a D-500 Infrared Reconnaissance System. The Real-Time Display (RTD) provides the capability of on-board review of high resolution infrared imagery using the wide infrared dynamic range of the D-500 infrared receiver to maximum advantage. The scan converter accepts, processes, and displays imagery from four channels of the IR Receiver after formatting by a multiplexer. The scan converter interfaces with a standard RS-170 video monitor. Detailed review and on-board analysis of infrared reconnaissance imagery stored on a videotape is easily accomplished using the many user-friendly features of the RTD. Using a convenient joystick controller, on-screen mode menus, and a moveable cursor, the operator can examine scenes of interest at four different display magnifications using a four step bidirectional zoom. Imagery areas of interest are first noted using the scrolling wide field display mode at 8x reduced display resolution. On noting an area of interest, the imagery can be marked on the tape record for future recovery and a freeze frame mode can be initiated. The operator can then move the cursor to the area of interest and zoom to higher display magnification for 4x, 2x, and lx display resolutions so that the full 4096 x 4096 pixel infrared frame can be matched to the 512 x 512 pixel display frame. At 8x wide field display magnification the full line scanner field of view is displayed at 8x reduced resolution. There are two selectable modes of obtaining this reduced resolution. The operator can use the default method, which averages the signal from an 8 x 8 pixel group, or it is also possible to select the peak signal of the 8 x 8 pixel block to represent the entire block on the display. In this alternate peak-signal display the wide field can be effectively scanned for hot objects which are more likely to be candidate targets. The intermediate 4x and 2x zoom steps are very useful in maintaining operator orientation in examining target clusters and industrial complexes. The four operating modes of the RTD are described and their use to the operator on a typical mission is outlined. Some installation details are given. The RTD as part of a complete D-500 Infrared Linescan Reconnaissance System is now being installed on a Beech 1900 Environmental Control Aircraft to monitor pollution in very sensitive and commercially important marine ecologies. Its application on military reconnaissance missions will allow the normal review of recorded videotape imagery at a ground station immediately after return of the aircraft to base. The areas of highest interest will have been previously marked during the airborne real-time review by the operator. The RTD packages into only two Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), a Scan Converter, and a Control Unit which includes a joystick hand controller. The CRT display is assumed to be part of the aircraft.